Slip cover



H. R. ARMBRECHT SLIP COVER Juiy 23, 1957 4 Sheets-$11991. 1

Filed May 12, 1955 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS I H. k. ARMBRECHT 2,800,169

July 23, 1957 SLIP COVER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 12, 1955 ATTORNEYS Juiy 23, 1957 M c -r 2,800,169

SLIP COVER Filed May 12, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENT OR ATTORNEYS H. R. ARMBRECHT July 23, 1957 SLIP COVER 4 Sheetw-Sheet 4 Filed May 12, 1955 w INVENTOR fizwaldlkmbrecfif ATTORNEY 5 United States Patent SLIP COVER Howard R. Armbrecht, Richmond, Va., assignor to Crawford Manufacturing Co., Inc., Richmond, Va., a corporation of Virginia Application May 12, 1955, Serial No. 507,904

8 Claims. (Cl. 155-182) This invention relates to slip covers for furniture and more particularly to a universal slip cover which is adapted to cover chairs, sofas and the like of various sizes and configurations.

While universal slip covers of the general type with which my invention is concerned are presently available, many persons contemplating the purchase of slip covers prefer to have such covers custom made. The universal type of slip covers presently available have not satisfactorily solved the problem of concealing surplus material. Due to their nature, universal slip covers are provided with suificient material to cover the larger sizes of chairs, and therefore possess a substantial amount of excess material when used on all but the larger sizes of furniture. The disposition of such excess material, while at the same time allowing for variances in dimensions of furniture, has posed a difficult problem to slip cover designers. Often, the excess material cannot be satisfactorily concealed and causes bulges and wrinkles, thus detracting from the appearance of the slip cover.

It is a primary object of my invention to provide a slip cover capable of being fitted to furniture within wide limits of dimensions or size and which will have the 'appearance of a custom made cover. Another object of my invention is to provide a slip cover in which excess material is disposed in such a manner as to present the appearance of a custom made cover.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a universal slip cover in which the component panels are assembled into an integral or unitary structure.

In the design of a universal slip cover, the critical portions of the cover are those which cover the shoulders of the back of the chair or sofa and those portions which cover the forward surfaces or faces of the arms. The remaining portions of the chair or sofa are usually substantially plane surfaces and therefore present few problems in design.

In addition to the aforementioned objects, a further object of my invention is to provide a'universal slip cover with an improved arrangement of panels for covering the shoulders and arm faces of a chair or sofa so the cover is readily adaptable to chair arms of various heights, widths and shapes. 1

The aforementioned objects are obtained in a slip cover in which a seat panel is extended at its forward edge to form a front skirt portion adapted to cover the front of the chair and having at its lower part side extensions which are adapted to be folded laterally around the forward corners of the chair. Secured to each side of the seat panel is an arm covering unit having an inner arm covering portion which is secured to a respective side edge of the seat panel. 'An outer arm covering portion integral with the inner arm covering portion has an extension at its lower rear which is adapated to be folded laterally around the rear corners of the chair. The inner and outer arm covering portions have a common front edge to which a front arm strip of rectangular shape is secured. A arm face panel is secured partly to the front edge of the arm covering portions and partly to the forward edge of the strip to cover the face of the chair arm which allows excess material to be concealed beneath the arm strip adjacent to the inner arm covering portion. The lower edge of the arm face panel underlies the extension of the front skirt which in turn underlies the forward part of the outer arm covering portion. A back covering unit secured to the rear edge of the seat panel comprises a front back panel which has right and left shoulder covering units secured to it at its upper edge. Each shoulder covering unit is of three piece construction and so shaped as to smoothly fit chair or sofa shoulders of various shapes. Excess material in the shoulder covering units is disposed smoothly against the back of the chair and a back flap overlies the excess portions of the shoulder covering units as well as the extensions of the outer arm covering portions which are disposed at the rear of the chair.

Other objects and features of my invention will become apparent with reference to the following specification taken in connection with the drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows my universal slip cover laid out to show the relationship of the various component panels;

Fig. 2 is a detailed view of one of the shoulder covering units;

Fig. 3 is a detailed view of the left arm face panel, looking at the under side of the panel;

Fig. 4 is a layout view of the arm face panel, Fig. 4a shows the arm face panel at an intermediate stage of assembly;

Figs. 5 through 12 show consecutive steps of the application of my universal slip cover to a chair; and

Figs. 13 through 15 show my cover being applied to a chair arm of different configuration.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, a rectangular seat panel 2 is extended from its forward edge into a front skirt panel 4. Seat panel 2 and front skirt panel 4 may, if desired, be cut from a single piece of material. For purposes of description, the seat panel has a forward limit generally corresponding to the dotted line A in Fig. 1. Skirt panel 4 is extended as at 6 and 8 to form side extensions which are adapted to be folded laterally around the forward outer corner of the chair during installation (see Fig. 7). A ruffie 10 may be provided across the lower edge of front skirt panel 4.

Secured to the right and left side edges 12 and 14 of seat panel 2 are right and left arm covering units 16 and 18, respectively. It should be noted that the arm covering units 16 and 18 are not secured along the entire extent of side edges 12 and 14 of seat panel 2 but are free from the side edges at portions 12A and 14A adjacent the skirt 4. 7

Arm covering units 16 .and 18 are constructed in a similar manner and a description of one is equally applicable to the other. Therefore, only one of the arm covering units will be described in detail, and reference numerals will be provided with the suflix L or R to respectively denote corresponding portions on the left and right covering units. The suffixes L and R will be applied as being oriented with respect to a person sitting in the chair.

Right arm covering unit 16 includes a one piece arm panel 20R, which, for purposes of the description is divided into an inner arm covering portion 22R, secured to edge 12 of seat panel 2, and outer arm covering portion 24R. Outer arm covering portion 24R has an extension 26R at the rearward portion which, in use, is adapted to be folded laterally around the rear corner of the chair back. Inner arm covering portion-22R and outer arm covering portion 24R have a common front edge 28R to which is sccured a rectangular fropt am;

strip 30R. To enhance the appearance of the cover the seam along front edge 28R may be provided with a finishing cord. The forward edge of front arm strip 30R, which is parallel to the edge which is secured to common front edge 28R, may also be finished with a cord-in a conventional manner.

One of the critical areas in any universal slip cover is the construction at those portions which are to cover the forward corners and face of the chair arms. To cooperate with inner arm covering portion 22, outer arm covering portion 24 and front arm strip Stl, I employ an irregularly shaped arm face panel 32. The actual construction of arm face panel 32 may be best appreciated by a comparison of Figs. 3, 4 and 4a in'the drawings in which this panel is shown in'its assembled condition, its blank form and an intermediate stage of assembly, respectively.

Referring to Fig. 4, front face panel 32, in its blank or preassembled condition, has the general form of a rectangle from one corner of which a square piece of material has been removed or cut out to leave two edges 33. In the assembly of the slip cover, the two edges 33 are joined to each other. This forms a pocket-like recess having three sides designated in Figs. 4 and 4a by the letters F, T and S which respectively would lie against the front face, top and inner side surfaces of the chair arm. Referring now to Fig. 4, edges 34 and 35 are angularly disposed to each other. Along a central part of edge 35, a joining portion 36 is separated from the edge 34 by a portion 37 of substantially the same length as the edge 33 which is parallel to edge portion 37. The portion of arm face panel 32 which is generally below joining portion 36 will be referred to as tab portion 38.

Referring now to Fig. 3, the arm face panel is secured to the arm covering portion 20 by two seams, one of which joins edge 34 along the common front edge 28 win the region of the inner arm covering portion 22. A second seam is employed to secure joining portions 36 to the forward edge of front arm strip 30 in a region generally opposite the outer arm covering portion 24. Edge portion 37 and the joined edges 33 are not secured to the front arm strip 39 but, when installed upon the chair extend transversely across and beneath front arm strip 30. By securing edge 34 and joining portion 36 to edges which are parallel and offset to each other, a second three-sided pocket-like recess is formed in which the portion of front arm strip 30 which is adjacent the joining portion 36 forms one side which, in use, is disposed against the outer arm surface of the chair.

Secured to rear edge 40 of seat panel 2 is front back panel 42. On either side of front back panel 42, adjacent upper edge 44, are secured right and left shoulder covering units 46 and 48. The details of shoulder covering unit 46, which is constructed in the same manner as shoulder covering unit 48, may be best appreciated from an inspection of Fig. 2. In Fig. 2, it is seen that the shoulder covering unit 46 is made from three individual panels. Front panel 59 of shoulder covering unit 46 is in the shape of a three sided figure, having a straight or vertical inner edge 52 which is secured to the upper portion of the side edge of front back panel 42. This seam may be concealed with a cord in the same manner as the seam along front edge 28 of the arm covering panel 20. The lower edge 54 of front panel 50 follows a concave curve which provides a smooth fit over the top of the chair arm. The third side 56 of front panel 50 is convexly arcuate to smoothly follow the shoulder contour of the chair. Secured to edge 56 of front panel 50 along one of its longer sides is a rectangularly shaped side panel 58. The upper side edge 59 of side panel 53 is secured as at 60 to the side edge of front back panel 42 .and extends from upper edge 44 of front back panel 42 to the uppermost portion of front panel 50. The other longitudinal edge 62 of side panel 58 forms a continuation of the upper edge 44 of front back panel 42. Se-

cured along edge 62 is a three sided rear panel 64. The edge 65 of rear panel 64 which is joined to edge 62 of side panel 58 is convexly curved in the same manner as edge 56 of front panel 59. Edge 65 is extended inwardly as at 66 beyond the side edge of front back panel 42, and is secured to edge 44 of front back panel 42. A back flap panel 68 of generally rectangular shape and of the same transverse dimension as front back panel 42 is secured to front back panel 42 along its upper edge 44.

The relationship .of the various panels and elements of my universal slip cover may be best appreciated by a description of the manner in which the slip cover is applied to a chair. cover is applied to the chair are illustrated consecutively in Figures 5 through 12.

Turning first to Fig. 5, the slip cover has been draped over a chair. As an intial step, the cords which conceal the seams along edges 52 of the shoulder covering units are centered with respect to the chair. As this time, the rear edge 4% of seat panel '2 may be tucked within the crevice between the back and seat of the chair in order to dispose front back panel 42 in a generally satisfactory arrangement upon the back of the chair. Next, the arm covering units are applied, one at a time, in the following manner. The seam along joining portions36 of arm face panel 32 and the forward edge of front strip 30 is aligned with the forward outer corner of the chair arm in the manner shown in Fig. 5 with the bottom of outer arm portion 24 closely adjacent the floor. After this scam has been located the remaining portion of the forward edge of front arm strip 3% is conformed from the seam at 36 to the remaining forward edges of the chair arm. Excess material of arm face panel 32 is drawn taut from the seam at edge 34 and is tucked back beneath the front strip 30 adjacent the inner arm covering portion 32 and also downwardly within the crevice between the chair arm and chair seat. After the excess material has been smoothly concealed, the front strip is secured in this orientation as by pins 76, note Fig. 6. Due to the shape of arm face panel 32, most chair arms may be covered by such an arm panel with at most a single fold of excess material to be disposed beneath the front arm strip and the forward edge of the inner arm covering portion 22. As seen in Figs. 5 and 6, after the arm face panel has been applied in the above manner, the tab 38 lies smoothly against the lower portion of the base of the chair arm. The next step in applying the cover is to stretch the extensions 6 and 8 of front skirt panel 4 laterally around the respective forward corners of the chair in overlapping relationship with the tab portions 38 of the arm face panels 32. The extensions are then secured in position with an upholstery pin in the manner shown in Fig. 7. After the extensions have been secured in this manner, the outer arm covering portion is secured in the position shown in Fig. 8 by means of additional pins. 7

After the pins have been applied as in Fig. 8, the extensions 26 of outer arm covering portion 24 are stretched around the rearward corners of the chair and are secured in position by means of tapes, see Fig. 9. The shoulder covering units 46 and 48 are then applied as shown in Fig. 10, the lower edges of the respective front panels 50 being tucked into the crevice between the top of the chair arm and the chair back, and any excess material of the panels 50 tucked under the front back panel 42. The rear panels 64 of the shoulder covering units are then drawn across the rear of the chair and likewise secured in position bytapes in the same manner as extensions 26 of outer arm covering portions 24. The back flap 68 is then firmly pulled down to tension cords along the vertical edges 52 of front back panel 42 and thus secure the excess material of front shoulder panels 50 beneath panel 42. Back flap 68 is then secured to the rear of the chair by means of additional upholstery pins or any suitable fastening means in the manner shown in Fig. 12.

The varioussteps by which the slip Figures 13-15 show the installationof the slip cover on a chair arm of different configuration. The chair arm shown presents most of the common variations in shape and it will be appreciated that my cover may be applied to other combinations of these variations.

The cover is installed on an arm of this shape as follows. The cover is positioned with the lower edge of outer arm covering portion 24 just above the floor. The forward edge of strip 30 is then placed slightly in back of the chair arm extension as in Fig. 13. The front face panel 32 is then tightly fitted across the arm face and tucked in the crevices as in Fig. 14. If desired, upholstery pins may be employed to secure arm face panel 32 in position. Front strip 30 is then placed in position as in Fig. 15- and pinned. The remaining steps of the installation are as described above.

The finished cover is exceedingly smooth fitting and, when applied with a reasonable degree of care, will have the appearance of a custom made slip cover. The novel conformation of the arm face panels and shoulder covering units provides suflicient material to adequately cover a substantial variety of chairs while at the same time making possible an efiicient concealment of any excess material which may be present in smaller varieties of chairs. The unitary construction prevents the loss of component units and assists in the installation of the cover.

While the above description has been directed to a cover for a chair, it will be obvious that the above construction may be employed on sofas or similar articles merely by increasing the width of the seat, front back and back flap panels. The word chair as employed in the following claims is to be construed as covering other articles of furniture of similar nature such as sofas and sofa beds. The foregoing description is to be considered as exemplary rather than limiting and the true scope of my invention is that defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A universal slip cover for chairs comprising a seat panel, right and left arm covering units comprising an inner arm covering portion secured to said seat panel, an. outer arm covering portion integral with said inner arm covering portion and having a common front edge therewith, a front arm strip secured along one edge thereof to said common front edge and having a forward edge substantially parallel to said one edge, and an arm face panel having an edge portion thereof secured by a seam to said forward edge opposite said outer arm portion, said seam overlying the forward outer edge of the chair arm and the remaining portion of said forward edge being conformed therefrom to the remainder of the forward edges of said arm, said arm face panel being drawn taut from said seam with the major portion of any excess material of said arm face panel being disposed in underlapping relationship with said strip adjacent said inner arm portion, a front skirt panel extending from the forward portion of said seat panel with extensions at the lower portions of said skirt panel adapted to be folded laterally around the sides of said chair into underlapping relationship with said outer arm covering portions, a front back panel secured to the rear portion of said seat panel and having right and left shoulder covering units secured to respective sides of said back panel adjacent the uppermost portion thereof, and a back flap panel secured to the upper edge of said front back panel and extending downwardly therefrom to cover the rear of said chair in overlapping relationship with at least a portion of each of said shoulder covering units and portions of said outer arm covering portions which are disposed at the rear of said chair.

2. A universal slip cover for chairs comprising a seat panel, right and left arm covering units each comprising an inner arm covering portion secured to said seat panel, an outer arm covering portion integral with said inner arm covering portion and having a common front edge therewith, a front arm strip secured along one edge to said common front edge and having a forward edge substantially parallel to said one edge, and an arm face panel of irregular shape having two edges thereof angularly disposed to each other prior to assembly into said slip cover, one of said last mentioned edges being secured to said common front edge adjacent said inner arm covering portion and the other of said last mentioned edges being secured by a seam to said forward edge opposite said outer. arm covering portion, said arm covering units being disposed on the respective chair arms with said seam overlying the forward outer edge of said arm and the remaining portion of said forward edge being conformed therefrom to the remainder of the forward edges of said arm, said arm face panel being drawn taut from said seam across the face of said arm with the excess material of said arm face panel being disposed in underlapping relationship with the portion of said strip adjacent said inner arm covering portion; a front skirt panel extending from the forward portion of said seat panel, side extensions on said skirt panel adapted to be folded, laterally around the sides of said chair into underlapping relationship with said outer arm covering portions, a front back panel secured to the rear edge of said seat panel and having right and left shoulder covering units secured to the respective sides of said back panel adjacent the upper edge thereof, and a back flap panel secured to the upper edge of said front back panel and extending downwardly therefrom to cover the rear ofsaid chair in overlapping relationship with at least a portion of each of said shoulder covering units and portions of said outer arm covering portions which are disposed at the rear of, said chair.

3. A universal slip cover for chairs comprising a seat panel, right and left arm covering units, each comprising an inner arm covering portion secured to said seat panel, an outer arm covering portion having a common front edge with said inner arm covering portion, a front arm strip secured along one dge to said common front edge and having a forward edge substantially parallel to said one edge, an arm face panel of irregular shape having two edges which are angularly disposed with respect to each other prior to assembly into said slip cover, one of said last mentioned edges being secured to said front edge adjacent said inner arm covering portion and the other of said last mentioned edges being secured by a seam to said forward edge opposite said outer arm covering portion, a tab portion on said arm face panel depending below the lowermost point at which said face panel is secured to said forward edge, said arm covering units being disposed on the respective chair arms with said seam overlying the forward outer edge of the chair arm, the remaining portion of said forward edge being generally conformed therefrom to the remaining forward edges of said arm, said arm face panel being drawn taut from said seam across the face of said arm with excess material of said arm face panel being disposed beneath said strip in the region adjacent said inner arm covering portion; a front skirt panel extending from the forward portion of said seat panel downwardly over the lower front surface of said chair and having right and left side extensions adapted to be folded laterally around the sides of said chair with a portion of respective extensions overlying the tab portion of respective face panels and further portions of said extensions underlying respective outer arm covering portions, and a back covering unit secured to the rear edge of said seat panel, said back covering unit comprising a front back panel, right and left shoulder covering units secured to respective sides of said front back panel at the uppermost portion thereof, and a back flap panel secured to the upper edge of said front back panel and extending downwardly therefrom to cover the rear of said chair in overlapping relationship with at least a portion of each of said shoulder covering units and por- 7 tions of said outer arm covering portions which are disposed at the rear of said chair.

4. In a universal slip cover, .an arm covering unit adapted to cover chair arms of various dimensions comprising an inner arm covering portion, an outer arm covering portion integral with said inner arm covering portion and having a common front edge therewith, a front arm strip secured along one edge to said common front edge and having a forward edge substantially parallel to said one edge, an arm face panel having one edge portion thereof secured to a portion of said forward edge opposite said outer arm covering portion, a second edge portion of said arm face panel secured to said common front edge adjacent said inner arm covering portion, said forward edge of said strip being conformable to the forward edges of the chair arm with said arm face panel covering the front of the chair arm and excess material of said arm face panel disposed beneath said strip.

5. in a universal slip cover, an arm covering unit adapted to cover chair arms of various dimensions comprising an inner arm covering portion, an outer arm covering portion integral with said inner arm covering portion and having a common front edgetherewith, a front arm strip secured along one edge to said common front edge and having a forward edge substantially parallel to said one edge, an arm face panel of irregular shape having two edges angularly disposed with respect to each other prior to assembly into said slip cover, one of said last mentioned edges being secured to a portion of said common front edge adjacent said inner arm portion, and the other of said last mentioned edges being secured to said forward edge of said strip opposite said outer arm portion, said forward edge of said strip being conformable to the forward edges of the chair arm, with said arm face panel covering the front of the arm and excess material of said panel being disposed beneath said strip.

6. In a universal slip cover, means adapted to cover a chair arm comprising covering portions disposed over the sides and tops of the arm, an arm face panel of irregular shape with a first edge thereof having a rectangular piece of material removed from said panel at one end of said first edge to leave two adjacent edges, means joining said two adjacent edges to form a first three-sided pocket-like recess, a second edge adjacent said first edge and angularly disposed thereto, a joining portion along a central portion of said second edge, said first edge and said joining portion of said arm face panel being secured to said covering portions in parallel offset relationship to each other to form, in cooperation with said covering portions, a second three-sided pocket-like recess, said first and said second three-sided pocket-like recesses cooperating to form a four-sided pocket for covering the forward portions of the chair arm.

7. A universal slip cover for chairs comprising a seat panel, right and left arm .covering units each comprising an inner arm covering portion secured to said seat panel, an outer arm covering portion having an extension adapted to be folded laterally around the rear of the Chair, said inner and outer arm portions having a common front edge, a front arm strip secured along one edge thereof to said front edge and having a forward edge substantially parallel to said one edge, and, an arm face panel secured to said front edge adjacent said inner arm portion and secured to the forward edge of said strip opposite said outer arm portion.

8. A universal slip cover for chairs comprising right and left arm panels each comprising an inner arm covering portion and an outer-arm covering portion having an extension adapted to be folded laterally around the rear of the chair, said inner and outer arm portions having a common front edge,,a front arm strip secured along one edge thereof to said front edge and having .a forward edge substantially parallel to said one edge, an arm face panel secured to said front edge adjacent said inner arm portion and secured to said forward edge of said strip opposite said outer .arm portion, and a front skirt panel having extensions at each side of said skirt panel, said extensions being adapted to be folded laterally'around the respective sides of the chair into underlapping relationship with said outer arm portions and said front arm strips below the portions of said strips which are secured to said arm face panels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,416,806 Waranch Mar. 4, 1947 2,469,520 Roberts May 10, 1949 2,667,211 Krasnov et al Jan. 26, 1954 

